Magnolia Bag Tutorial

Supply List
Lock Hook
Scissors
Needles
Straight pins with beaded heads
Measuring tape or ruler
Rug Canvas 3.75 squares per inch
1 hank of Magnolia Yarn in color of choice
Silk or batik cotton strips 3/4 inch wide by 75 yards long (made of short strips that will be joined as you go)
Silk to line inside of bag (I use hand dyed Shibori)
Silk or Cotton Sewing Thread to match Lining Fabric
20 inches by 3inches  strip of matching silk to make fastening cord
1 beautiful bead that has a hole all the way through, sideways
Linen Thread or strong cotton to attach Bead to Bag


Using 3.75 Carpet Canvas, cut a piece that is 7.50 inches wide by 16.50 inches long.
Turn under all four sides. Make sure that you fold two squares under so that the canvas will not ravel.













Thread the lock hook with a length of either batik, or silk, strips through the large eye of the needle.

With the magnolia yarn pull a loop to the right side of the canvas using the hook end of tool.













Now, continue pulling loops through all the way down the length side of canvas.














After about 5 loops, pull through from the other end of tool the length of fabric, being careful not to pull too tightly. Leave a tail about 3 inches long of batik or silk strip, to be woven in, later.















Continue these steps to the end of the row, turn and just keep going until the canvas is completely covered. Note, you must catch both layers of canvas around the edges. It will be easier once you get past that point. You will develop a routine motion as you go. It reminds me a little of crochet.


Ever so often you will need to join another strip of fabric to what is already being used. Take each strip end and cut a little slit. You take the end that is already being worked and into that cut you push the new end through it  and pull it through all the way. It forms a little flat knot which will easily pass through the eye of the needle.
















Fold the piece in half.



















Now we will seam it together. First, you need to remove fabric from eye of needle and replace it with the yarn. We are using the tool as a needle, now.
At the point where the fold is, this is where the first whip stitch goes.
You can see, here, how the stitching is done, a little better.













Here it is finished.  Leave the tails and then turn the bag to other side and do the same steps with this.













I braid whatever strands are hanging loose after the stitching together and then just tuck them inside of the bag.













Do the same on the other side.















Now we finish the upper opening of the bag by stitching around with a piece or two of the batik or silk. This gives a finished look where we will attach the lining of the bag.













The silk that is for the lining of the bag is cut to allow for the seam allowance of 1/2 inch around the two sides. Leave the top part open. Fold so that right sides are together. This will be the inside of the bag.













Fold the top over to form the hem remember that the pouch is going to be the right side.














Double check by inserting your hand inside the bag to make sure that you are not making the pouch too short. Adjust the hem fold accordingly.
Before hemming you will attach the closure cord and bead.













Attach the folded, in half, silk cord about one inch from top of bag and centered on the back using heavy cotton or linen thread. Make sure that you anchor it onto the canvas. Sew through it securely several times.






























Attach the bead by sewing as above into the canvas, as well, to anchor the bead securely.

















Hem by using tiny whip stitches to attach to batik going all the way around the top.














Slip the cords under the bead. Tie a knot on each end of cord. This can be pulled to close the bag.

This is the bag with the lining pulled out, just to take a look at it. Tuck back inside the bag.

Finished!